Under 12's Match report Sunday 14th March 2010

Well, two weeks running and two excellent performances with real spirit from the Under 12s. Once again due to injuries we didn’t manage to field a full side, however, Tyldesley were kind enough to play a 12-a-side match. It is so impressive to find just how helpful and accommodating coaches, players and parents can be. So the game kicked off with both sides playing just 5 forwards and Sam Trueman in the unfamiliar role of right wing and talking of things unfamiliar it was dry, quite sunny and the pitch seemed to be missing something called MUD!

Right from the kick off the team played with the same verve and determination that they showed for the most part at LSH and for the first few minutes tackled everything that even looked like it might move and defended in true “thou shalt not pass” mode. In fact the Tyldesley prop who had run through at will in our previous encounters found himself prone on the ground and looking up at the sky far too often for his liking and started to run diagonally at the backs who seemed just as happy as the forwards to knock him over. Once the ball found it’s way into Bolton hands the Tyldesley team had to defend for their lives and some excellent kicks from both Josh Holmes and Tom Hill sent them right back to their own try line.
After 15 minutes the scoreboard was still silent and the guys were really getting up a head of steam. Wills Brindle almost repeated last weeks try from Coach Hill’s magic penalty move and after playing skittles with over half the home side finally succumbed to numbers just a few metres from the line.
Both Tom and Josh also added telling runs to their repertoire and not to outdone David Warren was as elusive as always.

However, as the half drew to a close Tyldesley registered two quick scores, the second despite valiant covering from both Dylan Hibbert and Joey Gore. The team turned round with the home side up 14-0.

The second half was just as exciting as the first. The pattern seemed to be Tyldesley with most of the ball (their scrum was awesome) battering at the Bolton defence who basically repulsed attack after attack. The Bolton lads more than held their own in the loose and stole a steady but not excessive supply of ball which Joey used wisely to feed his ever willing runners Wills, Josh, Tom and Firth Lord. In the break of the game Joey fed Josh who jinked through several tackles and through a long pass to the supporting Dylan who unfortunately was bundled into touch just short of the line.

Despite all the Bolton player’s excellent efforts Tyldesley continued to extend their advantage, however, Bolton’s “never say die” spirit never left them and Firth finally got his reward for an excellent all round display when his backing up finally paid of and he stormed over the line to slam the ball down. For once Tom’s kicking boots had an aberration and he hit the crossbar with the conversion attempt. Tom blamed the kicking tee and David walking across his field of vision plus the home groundsman for putting the bar 15cm too high for his first miss of the season – his teammates remained strangely silent but their disbelieving looks spoke volumes!

The game finished 35-5 to the home outfit but despite being a little battered and bruised the Bolton lads were anything but down and this superb spirit and determination is becoming an excellent feature of the whole squad. From the smiles and sheer feeling of ebullience you would have been hard pressed to guess the final score.

The award of Man of the Match was the hardest yet of the season. Josh, Firth and Tom were, as always, superb; Joseph and Wills excellent, Jordan Ashton a rock and Faraaz Mohammed played out of his skin. In the backs we had to check that the real Joey had turned up as his tackling was out of this world, Nat was outstanding in everything he did, Dylan exciting in attack and strong in defence and David’s tackling, running and catching were first class despite needing some running repairs due to a knock in the mouth. However, Sam stole the show with an all round display of sheer determination, energy and no lack of skill despite finding himself out of position for most of the game. Top Tackler was Tom for the most perfect diving tackle you will ever see if you watch rugby until you are 100.

Thanks everyone, yet again a superb performance, sporting in defeat and exuberant and determined in all you did. A real pleasure to watch; roll on next Sunday.